30 June,2026 05:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rahul Ravindran (Picture via Instagram)
Filmmaker and actor Rahul Ravindran has announced that he is leaving X (formerly Twitter) after his family was subjected to abuse and death threats over false social media claims linking his upcoming film The Girlfriend to the Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal murder case.
Taking to X on Monday, Rahul revealed that online harassment had crossed all limits, with anonymous users not only targeting him but also issuing threats against his children. The director said the relentless abuse had forced him to step away from the platform for the safety and well-being of his family.
"I am done," Rahul wrote in an emotional post. "This platform has become a place where lies spread faster than facts. My children are receiving death threats because of fabricated stories. I can deal with criticism, but I cannot put my family through this."
The controversy began after misleading posts on social media claimed that The Girlfriend, starring Rashmika Mandanna, was inspired by or connected to the sensational Ketan Agarwal murder case in Pune. The claims quickly gained traction online despite having no official confirmation or evidence to support them.
Rahul categorically denied the allegations, calling them baseless and malicious. He clarified that the film has no connection whatsoever with the murder case and urged people not to believe misinformation circulating on social media.
"The Girlfriend has absolutely nothing to do with the Pune case. Please stop spreading lies," he said, expressing disappointment over the ease with which false narratives gain momentum online.
Despite his clarification, the abuse reportedly intensified. Trolls allegedly flooded his social media accounts with threatening messages, while some even targeted his family members. Rahul said that crossing the line from criticism to threatening children was unacceptable.
The filmmaker also reflected on the growing toxicity of social media, stating that platforms intended to encourage discussion have increasingly become spaces for harassment and intimidation. He stressed that creators should be able to promote their work without fearing for their families' safety.
Rahul's announcement drew support from several members of the film industry and fans, many of whom condemned the online abuse and urged authorities to take stricter action against those issuing threats. Several users also praised the director for prioritising his family's well-being over maintaining a social media presence.
While Rahul has chosen to leave X, he assured followers that work on The Girlfriend will continue as planned. The film, headlined by Rashmika Mandanna, remains one of the director's upcoming projects, and he expressed hope that audiences would judge it on its own merits rather than on baseless rumours circulating online.
His decision has reignited conversations about the dangers of online misinformation and the increasing prevalence of targeted harassment, particularly when it extends beyond public figures to their families.
